Patent GB-190609369-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Typewriting and like Machines.
Inventor: HAINES ROBERT THORN
Filed: 1906-04-20
Granted: 1907-06-20
Abstract: 9369. Haines, R. T. April 20. Typewriters &c.-Relates to typewriters and like machines provided with a vertical platen arranged to rotate for letter-spacing and to shift longitudinally for line-spacing, and comprises an arrangement in which the work proceeds continuously without the usual interruption for margin-adjustment and line-spacirig, the latter operations, being effected automatically. (1) The letter-spacing movement is effected either by means of a driving- spring and escapement mechanism, or by the positive feed shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The platen a is mounted on a rod or bar b secured in a base-plate c suspended by bolts e from the table or support d. A ratchet-wheel g is provided on a plate or disk f connected by a pin f<1> to the platen. A spring pawl a' co-operating with the ratchet-wheel g is carried by a plunger a<2> connected to a slotted arm k<10>, which slides along a rod k<9> secured to an arm k<8> carried by the universal bar k<6>. (2) The linespacing movement may be effected by means of a driving spring or weight, and an 'escapement comprising inclined projections on the carriage frame and a slotted disk on the platen ; or the platen may descend by gravitation instead of ascending. For variable line - spacing, inclined projections of different lengths are provided on different sides of a rod arranged to rotate. Another form of escapement mechanism is shown in Figs. 1 and 5 The carriage h is suspended by a chain h<1> connected with a spring drum h<4>. The escapement mechanism comprises a fixed rack i, and pawls l, l<1> carried by a bell-crank lever l<2> on the carriage h. The lever l<2> is actuated by cams or projections l<3> on a sliding plate l<4>, mounted in the disk f and provided with a finger-piece l<5>. According as one or both cams l<3> are set to engage the lever l<2>, the carriage is advanced once or twice during the rotation of the disk f. The pawls l, l<1> can be withdrawn from the rack i to release the carriage, by means of an eccentric and handle. (3) For sheets of different widths, platens of different diameters and provided with ratchet - wheels having the requisite number of teeth may be used ; or an expanding platen may be used ; or an ordinary platen may be provided with mechanism for completing the rotation beyond the limit of the spacing-mechanism, when the sheet does not occupy the whole circumference. Figs. 4 and 9 show one form of such mechanism, together with margin mechanism, and Fig. 13 shows a modification. Three cams o, p, q are provided on the rod b. The cams p, q co-operate with rollers r, t<1> on links r<1>, t, pressed forward by a spring t<2>. to complete the rotation of the platen. At the end of a line, the roller r drops down the edge p' of the camp, allowing the links r<1>, t to swing inwards, so that the rollers t<1> engage the horns q<1> of the cam q. When the sheet occupies the whole circumference of the platen, the arm t can be swung aside by means of a handle and connexions t<3>, t<7>. The cam o co-operates with a roller n<1> on a lever n to control the margin. The lever n is pressed forward by springs n<2>, n<3>, and the amount of margin is determined by the adjustment of a rotary piece m, provided with stops m<1>, m<2>, m<3> for the lever n. In the modification shown in Fig. 13, the parts q, t<1>, Figs. 4 and 9, are replaced respectively by a disk q<0> furnished with pins q<00>, and a toothed segment t<X> which can be moved into and out of operative position by means of a handle tx. An alarm bell B, Fig. 9, may be provided, the hammer B<1> being actuated by pins B<2>, B<3> on the margin cam 0.